I go to a small university where about fifty percent of the student body commutes to school everyday. There are so many advantages to living at home while going to school: you get to see your family all the time, you save money on housing, and no uncomfortable twin XL beds. I could have had that, since my hometown is close enough to two universities and a plethora of technical colleges, but my heart was set on moving away two hours to what became my dream school. For two thousand other students that also live at Francis Marion University, they will understand the advantages and disadvantages to living on campus as much as I do.
There are positive things about living on campus. For example, if I sleep past my alarm and wake up at 8:15 for my 8:30 class (which has already happened, by the way), I can roll out of bed, slap on a hat, brush my teeth, and make it to class by at least 8:29. Not having to drive to school every day, especially waking up earlier to do so, is easily the best advantage for me. I'm definitely a sleeper, and I don't do much to go to class, so I can easily sleep until it's absolutely necessary for me to get ready for class. It's also easier for me to go to events on campus, especially since I work for the college newspaper. Doing a tour, stopping by a professor's office to chat, or even meeting a friend at the Grille for lunch is a task I don't have to plan for because I can just walk anywhere on campus.
That being said, there are some negative things about living on campus. Francis Marion is about fifteen minutes away from Five Points, where most of the city is located. Sure, downtown is only ten minutes away, and getting to Food Lion or CVS is only about five, but a Walmart or Hobby Lobby trip can take twenty to almost thirty minutes, depending on traffic. And for a girl that crafts more than she does homework, that's a long time to spend commuting back and forth for glitter and Mod Podge. Also, when I'm at school on the weekends, there's virtually nothing to do, because so many people go home or are home. I spend most of my weekends sitting around waiting for it to be over. The school usually doesn't plan events for the weekends because there won't be a big enough crowd.
But the biggest disadvantage, at least for me, is being away from my family. I am a big family person and I love nothing more than coming down during a break and visiting with them. That being said, it is hard for me to go down a lot considering my hometown of Goose Creek is almost two hours away from Francis Marion. I try to call my mom and dad every day, just to see how their days have been and update them on mine. I know they're so proud of me, and they know that I'm up here pursuing my education and building my future, but it hurts to be away from my family. I get so homesick and family-sick that just the thought of seeing my mom or dad or anyone can send me into tears.
That's also why I made the friends I did. My friends mean so much to me, no matter who they are or how I met them, because they are my family when my family is not physically able to be with me. Living two hours away from home is a burden and blessing, because it takes me from my hometown family but has given me a college family, and I don't think it would be so without that restriction.
I am thankful for the two hours that made me appreciate my families.
